Sir Ian McKellen, 84, reveals that “everything” in his life changed for the better “almost overnight” after he came out as gay in 1988
- The 84-year-old legendary actor came out as gay in 1988 and admits it was a life-changing moment for him
- “Almost overnight, everything in my life changed for the better – my relationships with people and my whole approach to acting changed,” he told Variety
- Ian’s career has spanned more than six decades and although he is increasingly aware of his own mortality, he has no plans to retire any time soon
Sir Ian McKellen revealed in a recent magazine interview that his life changed “overnight” after coming out as gay.
The 84-year-old legendary actor came out as gay in 1988 and admits it was a life-changing moment for him.
He told Variety: “Almost overnight, everything in my life changed for the better – my relationships with people and my whole approach to acting changed.”
Ian admits that coming out actually had a big impact on his acting work.
The Lord of the Rings star explained: “The type of acting I was good at was all about disguises – adopting funny voices and strange walks.”
Legendary Actor: Screened in London earlier this month, Sir Ian McKellen revealed in a recent magazine interview that his life changed “overnight” after coming out as gay
“It was about lying to the world. I was no longer in the position of walking alongside the character and explaining it to the audience. I just became the character.’
Ian also said he felt it was difficult for non-gay people to understand his struggle.
The veteran actor said, “People who aren’t gay just don’t realize how damaging lying and being ashamed about yourself is to you.”
“I grew up at a time when it was illegal for me to have sex with a man. And that wasn’t that long ago,” he added.
Ian’s career has spanned more than six decades and although he is increasingly aware of his own mortality, he has no plans to retire any time soon.
“Withdraw to do what? “I have never been unemployed, but I am aware that at any moment something could happen to me that could prevent me from ever working again,” he said.
“But as long as the knees hold out and the memory stays intact, why shouldn’t I carry on?” “I really feel like I’m pretty good at this acting thing now,” Ian added.
However, Ian admitted there has been a lot of talk about retirement lately, recalling a critic who brought up the idea after Ian forgot a line at the preview of the stage play Frank and Percy.
Long career: The 84-year-old legendary actor, who starred in 2014’s The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, came out as gay in 1988 and admits it was a life-changing moment for him
TV Star: Ian appears with Marilyn Tayerson in a still from the 1972 TV show Country Matters
Marvel Villain: The English actor played Magneto in films based on Marvel comics and appeared in the 2006 film X-Men: The Last Stand
“Instead of understanding that this happens from time to time, this critic says it’s evidence that it’s time for Ian McKellen to stop acting,” Ian said. “Maybe I should challenge this man to a podcast where we could discuss this.”
However, the actor realized that this might not be a wise decision. It might just draw more attention to it. After all, I’ve long since made peace with critics.”
Ian can next be seen in the upcoming British thriller The Critic, based on the 2015 novel Curtain Call by Anthony Quinn.
“The Critic” premiered at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival in September.
Set in London in 1934, the film is about an actress who finds herself in a dark situation between a theater critic and the editor of his newspaper.
Ian was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1991.